My mom kindly offered me the use of her 1967 wedding dress in whatever way I wish (or not at all... she was pretty cool about it). It's very pretty: completely covered in Chantilly lace, long fitted sleeves, chapel length train. But the dress is not my style at all and it doesn't really fit. The skirt fit okay-ish... I could zip it up to my waist. But there's no way the bodice will fit. At the top across my back, the two sides were a good six inches apart. Anyone altering it would have to add a heck of a lot of material to cover me up (she was like a 32B, I'm 34F). The sleeves don't fit, but I didn't want long sleeves anyway (Georgia in June!) I also didn't really want a train.
My dress budget is tiny since FI and I are paying for everything ourselves... probably no more than $300 for dress, alterations, etc. I'm guessing remaking the dress made might end up costing me as much as or more than a cheap new one.
My options as I see them are: 1) leave her dress intact, put it away, and buy my own dress; 2) try to have the bodice altered/remade and the skirt shortened; or 3) get a plain dress, cannibalize my mom's dress for lace, and have someone add the bits of lace to the plain dress.
If I choose #3, does anyone have any suggestions for how/where the lace might be added? All over the skirt? As straps/ cap sleeves? I'm still not sure how I would feel about having the dress taken apart or significantly altered, but I want to figure out what my creative options are, regardless. Thanks for any suggestions, however wild or weird :-)
PS I've already figured out how to jerry-rig her old veil, so that MIGHT satisfy my sentimental need to wear something of hers.